EPL PHOTOS: Liverpool give City the blues, close in on title

EPL PHOTOS: Liverpool give City the blues, close in on title

Liverpool took a huge step towards becoming English champions for the first time in 24 years when they beat third-placed Manchester City 3-2 in a thrilling Premier League game at Anfield on Sunday.

Chelsea won 1-0 at 10-man Swansea City to stay within two points of leaders Liverpool, who they visit in two weeks time.

A Chelsea victory in that game could let in City, who trail Liverpool by seven points but have two games in hand, one against bottom club Sunderland on Wednesday.

Liverpool have not finished top since 1990, two years before the Premier League began, but Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put them 2-0 up inside 26 minutes before David Silva led a City revival in the second half.

The Spaniard reduced the deficit and an own goal by Glen Johnson levelled matters before Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho drove in the winner after a mistake by City captain Vincent Kompany 12 minutes from time to secure Liverpool's 10th successive victory.

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Image: Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City Photographs: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Henderson was sent off in stoppage-time

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson was sent off in stoppage-time and will miss three of the four remaining games, including the potentially decisive visit of Chelsea.

Manager Brendan Rodgers, who has revitalised the team in two seasons since taking over, hailed "a remarkable performance".

"I thought we were incredible today," he told Sky Sports.

"We showed so much spirit and quality. We have been put under pressure in a very big game but you can see from the quality of our football that we are coping with it."

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Image: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool is shown a red card by Referee Mark Clattenburg during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City Photographs: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Emotional day for Liverpool

It was an emotional day for the club, who commemorated 25 years since the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 of their supporters died at an FA Cup semi-final. There was a minute's silence before kickoff, after which the home fans roared their team into a sixth-minute lead.

Toure injured

In between, City lost influential Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure due to injury and not until shortly before halftime did they threaten. Johnson and Sterling had to clear off the line in the same attack and Fernandinho's half-volley was saved by Simon Mignolet.

City, champions two years ago before losing their title to neighbours Manchester United last season, continued to improve after halftime with James Milner and Sergio Aguero coming on.

In the 56th minute Milner set up Silva to score from close range and five minutes later Silva and Samir Nasri worked a neat passing move that ended with Johnson deflecting the ball past his own goalkeeper.

Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge, a former City player, and Suarez both wanted penalties in separate incidents but television replays suggested the ever controversial Suarez had dived. Having already received a yellow card, he could have been sent off.

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Image: Yaya Toure of Manchester City goes off injured during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City Photographs: Alex Livesey/Getty Images